NewEnglishCurriculumforChinesePrimarySchoolsand

Junior/SeniorMiddleSchoolsExperimentalVersiondraftedbytheEducationMinistryofthePRCPart1:IntroductionWiththeadventoftheinformationageandtheglobaleconomy,Englishhasbecomeincreasinglyimportant.EnglishisthedominantcarrierofinformationandthemostwidelyspokenIanguageintheworld.ManycountrieshavemadeEnglishacornerstoneofqualityeducationwhendevelopingstrategiesforbasiceducation.SineeChina'⑥r(nóng)efandopening,thescaleofitsEnglisheducationhascontinuallygrown,attendedbysignificantachievementsinteachingandlearning.However,Englisheducationinitscurrentformisfailingtomeettheneedsofcontemporarysocialandeconomicdevelopment.ThecurrentroundofreformstotheEnglishcurriculumaimtoendthefollowingpractices:Over-emphasizingthetransmissionandexplanationofknowledgeaboutgrammarandvocabularyNeglectingtodevelopstudents 'abilitytoagefongualIntheirplace,thereformsaimtoestablishacurriculumthat:Developsstudents 'comprehensiveIanguagecompeteneeMotivatesstudents,isrelevanttotheirlifeexperiencesandcognitivelevelPromotestask-basedteachingmethodsInvoIvesstudentsinexperiential,practical,participatoryandcooperativelearningDevelopsstudents 'positiveattitudes,thinkingskills,practicalabilities,culturalawarenessandautonomythroughtheIanguagelearningprocessTheNatureoftheNewCurriculumThenewEnglishcurriculumstrivestoaccomplishfarmorethanjusthelpstudentslearnEnglish.AtonelevellearningEnglishshouldinvoIvehelpingstudentsto:DevelopacertainlevelofcomprehensiveIanguagecompeteneeandtheabilitytouseIanguageforrealcommunicationMastercertainbasicIanguageknowledgeMasterlistening,speaking,readingandwritingskillsHowever,atanotherlevelthecurriculumshouldalsoservestudentsall-rounddevelopment,providingthemwithopportunitiesto:StrengthentheirinterestinstudyingEnglishGrowinself-discipline,perseveraneeandself-confideneeImprovetheircooperative,investigativeandthinkingabilitiesDeveloptheirmemory,imaginationandcreativityAdoptgoodstudyhabitsandeffectivelearningstrategiesDevelopasautonomousandlifelonglearnersBuildmoralintegrityandahealthyoutlookonlifeEstablishbothnationalspiritandanawarenessofandrespectforculturaldifferencesBroadentheirhorizonsandenrichtheirlifeexperieneeTakepartinculturallifeDevelopasindividualsBasicPrinciplesoftheNewCurriculumThecurriculumpromotesqualityeducation(asopposedtoexam-orientatededucation)andtheall-rounddevelopmentofthestudentsTopromotequalityeducationparticularattentionmustbepaidto:Valuingeachstudent 'sfeelingsStimulatingstudents 'interestinstudyingEnglishHelpingstudentsgainasenseofachievementandself-confideneeThecurriculummustgobeyonddevelopingstudentscomprehensiveIanguagecompeteneetoincludeareassuchas:Improvingstudents'abilitytoeontributetoculturalandsociallifeDevelopingstudents 'practicalabilitiesFosteringstudents 'creativityThecurriculumobjectivesareholisticandflexible.ThefundamentalaimofthenewEnglishcurriculumistodevelopstudentscomprehensiveIanguagecompetenee.Thisaimisbrokendownintofivegeneralobjectives.Theseobjectivesarethendividedintonineabilitylevelswithdescriptorsprovidedforeachlevel.Thefivegeneralobjectivesare:LanguageSkillsLanguageKnowledgeAttitudestoLearningLearningStrategiesTheprincipleaimoftheNewCurriculumfortheteachingofEnglishistohelpthei[i]students'movefromcompeteneetoperformance(Chen,2002) .Whatdoesthismean?Well,'competenee'isaboutwhatthestudentsknowintheirminds,theirtheoreticalknowledge,inotherwords.'Performanee'referstowhatitisthatthestudentscadowiththattheoreticalknowledge.'Performanee'referstowhatispractical,useful,creativeandimaginative.Yourjobasateacheristofindwaystohelpthestudents'knowledgebecomeactive,practical,flexibleandresponsive,ratherthaninactive,theoretical,inflexibleandimitative.Studentsneedtolearnhowtheycancontroltheirownknowledge,useitdifferentlyindifferentsituations,andbeabletomaketheirowndecisionsabouthowtheylearn.Thisisabigchallengeforyouasateacher.UndertheNewCurriculumEnglishwillbeseennotonlyasatoolforcommunication,butalsoforthinking,learningandsocialparticipation.Italsotakesintoaccountthestudents'feelingsaboutlearning,ratherthanjudgingthempurelyaslearningmachines.Thisisreflectedinthenine-levelattainment-targetsystem,whichyourteachershavecopiesof.Youshouldstudytheseattainment-targets,astheyfocusonachievementsandwhatstudentscando,ratherthanplacingimpossiblechallengesforteachersandstudents.NewTeachingandLearningApproacheswiththeNewCurriculum:UndertheNewCurriculum,therearenewteachingandlearningapproachesnecessary.Theseareabigchallenge,astheywillbe:Student-centred^asopposedtoteacher-centredParticipatory-asopposedtopassiveExperiential?asopposedtoroteFlexibleasopposedtopre-determinedTheywillencourage:1[1]ChenXiaotang,oneofthepeopleontheNewCurriculum(NC)WorkingParty,saidthisataVSOconferenceinNovember2002.2[2]Seesectiononstudent-centredlearning.3[3]SeeGlossary? Deductiveandinductivereasoning;? Criticalthinking? Interpersonalskills? Learninghowtolearn(learningskills)ratherthanjustcrammingCo-operativelearningUse-value-inotherwords,theknowledgethestudentsgainwillbeexpectedtohelpthempractically,ratherthanremaintheoreticalknowledgethattheycan'tuse.ParticipationNegotiationSelf-discoveryEvaluation:TheNewCurriculumwillalsoencouragevariedformsofevaluation:Self-andpeer-evaluation;SummativeandformativeJudgementsonIanguagqperformanceratherthanpassiveknowledge.Thissuggestsamuchgreateremphasisonspeakingaswellastheotherskillsoflistening,readingandwriting.Thephraseyou'regoingtoreadagainandagaininthisHandbook(seethetitlepage,forexample)isstudentsmustmovefromcompeteneetoperformanee.Whatchallengesarethereforfutureteachers?Let'slookspecificallynowatthekindsofchallengesyouwillfaceinimplemetingtheNewCurriuclum.TheinitialchallengefornewteacherswillbetounderstandtheNewCurriculum,especiallythenewstandards.YouwillhavetoupdateyourviewsonIanguageandIanguageeducationandadoptnewapproachestoIanguageteaching,includingthetask-basedteachingapproachanditspractice.YouwillhavetoimproveyourownprofessionalcompeteneeinIanguageproficiency,cross-culturalcompetencepedagogicalcompetenee,andtheadoptionofnewlearningstrategiesinyourmethods.Aswellasthatyouwillhavetochangetheteacher'srolefromthatofknowledge-distributortofacilitator,organiser,participantandadvisor,'usingthetextbookratherthanteachingthetextbook.'(SeePartFiveontipsforusingNewCurriculumtexts.)Howcanpre-servicetrainingpreparestudentsforthechallenges?YouandyourcolleagueswillneedtoincorporatetheintroductionoftheNewCurriculumintoyoursyllabusandcoursedesigns.Inaddition,youwillneedtoconvincethestudentsoftheneedforchangeandmakethembelievetheyCANdoit.Theimplementationofthenewcurriculumneedscontributionsfrom,andco-operationamong,manygroupsofpeopleincluding:teachers,teachertrainers,educationaladministrators,educationalresearchers,community,parentsandemployers.What'snew?Thenewrationale:TheaimsoflearningaforeignIanguagearenottobelimitedtomasteryofknowledgeandskillsintheforeignIanguage.LikeotherschoolsubjectssuchasMaths,Music,ArtandPhysicalEducation,foreignIanguagesarepartoftheoveralldevelopmentofallstudents.ThroughlearningaforeignIanguage,studentscanenrichtheirexperieneeoflife,broadentheirworldvision,andenhancetheirthinkingskills.Languagelearningismosteffectivewhenstudents'interest,motivationanattitudesaretakenintoconsideration.NewlearningstrategiesshouldbeincorporatedintotheIanguagecurriculum,sothatstudentscanbecomeautonomouslearners,whichisfundamentalforlifelonglearning.Evaluationshouldbesummativeandformativeanddesignedandadministeredtoencouragethelearnersratherthanfrustratethem.Itshouldbecarriedoutintermsofwhatstudentscandoratherthanwhattheycannotdo.NewCurriculumTargets:Languageskills:listening,speaking,readingandwriting(criticalthinkingskillsandinterpersonalskillsjmphasisedforseniorhighschool);Languageknowledge:pronunciation,vocabulary,grammar,functionandtopics;Motivation,interest,confidenee,co-operation,patriotismandworldvisionLearningstrategies:cognitive,planning,communicativeandresourcingstrategiesCulturalawareness:culturalknowledgecross-culturalcompetenceNewmethodsoftargetspecification:Studentscan:understandandfollowinstructions;? identifythechangeinmeaninginintonation;? providepersonalinformationanddescribepersonalexperienee;* eomprehendsimplestoriesandgraspthegist.Newlearningandteachingapproaches:TheNewCurriculumadvocatesprocess-orientedIanguagelearningandteachingapproaches,suchasexperientiallearningandco-operativelearning:studentsareencouragedtoexperieneetheIanguage,learntheIanguagebyself-discovery,participateindiscussionandnegotiationactivities.Itemphasisestheroleofpositiveaffective(emotional)statesonthepartofthestudents.ltadvocatesthetask-basedapproachtoIanguagelearningandteaching;learningbydoingandbyusingtheIanguage.Itincorporateslearningstrategydevelopmentintotheclassroominstruction.Newevaluationsystem:TheNewCurriculumrecognisestherolethestudentsthemselvesplayintheprocessofevaluation,e.g.,self-assessment.ltcombinessummativeassessmentwithformativeassessment.Itadoptsmultiple,flexibleevaluationmethodsandtechniques.ItemphasisestheevaluationofIanguageperformaneeratherthanIanguagecompetenee.(SeePartFourfordetailsaboutEvaluation.)UsingtheTextbookorTeachingtheTextbook?TheNCexpectsteacherstobecomemoreflexibleintheirapproachtotheuseofthetextbookintheclassroom.Traditionally,teachershavegonethroughthetextbookfrombeginningtoend,followingthestructureofthebooks,andmakingsurethatclassescoverallthecontent.Thisattitudetoteachingisgoingtohavetochange.TheNCrequiresteacherstousethetextbook,ratherthanteachingthetextbook.Inotherwords,theteacherisexpectedtofindnewandinterestingwayswiththestudentsindevelopingapproachestotextbookuseinsideandoutsidetheclassroom.WhatthismeanscanbefoundinmoredetailinPartFiveofthisHandbook.Task-basedlearning:Thisisaphraseyou'regoingtobereadingalotaboutinthisHandbook,andcomeacrossinyoureverydayteachingwork.Whatisit?Task-basedmeansengaginginactivitiesthataimtodotwothings:Fitintothestudents'overalllearning-developmentinEnglish;HelpthestudenttousetheIanguagemoreeffectively.Inotherwords,becauseofthetask,thestudentshouldbeabletolearnsomethingofvalueandusetheknowledgeaswell.It'snotenoughforthestudentsimplytounderstand.That's'competenee'.Heorshehastobeabletouseitaswell.That's'performanee'.Forexample,ifastudentislearningaboutplacesinatown,notonlydoesthestudenthavetounderstandthewords,buts/healsobeabletousetheminrealisticways-insentences,speaking,throughlisteningorreading,orindeedinnormalconversation,inarguments,discussionsetc..(SeePartFiveforspecificexamplesoftask-basedlearningactivitieswith'GoForIt'.)Inotherwords,allthetasks,whichyouengageinwithyourstudentsastheylearnEnglishmustfulfiltheabovecriteria.LastWord:GettoknowtheNewCurriculum.Youneedtostudyit,discussit,thinkaboutit,askquestionsaboutit,andseehowyoumightworkittogetherwiththetextbooks.Yourfirstpriority,then,istogettoknowthetextbooksandtheNC.Readthemtogether.Seehowtheyfittogether.Askquestionsofyourteachers.Don'tleavethisaspectanyIonger.BeginworkingontheNewCurriculumandthetextbooksTODAY!NewEnglishCurriculumforChinesePrimarySchoolsandJunior/SeniorMiddleSchoolsdraftedbytheEducationMinistryofthePRCNoteonthistranslationThisEnglishversionofChina 'snewcurriculumforEnglishisintendedforVSOvolunteerswhowouldliketofeelbetterinformedaboutadocumentthatiscentraltoourwork.However,itshouldinnowayberegardedasanofficialtranslation.Infact,itisneitherawordforwordtranslationnorasummary.Theappendixtotheoriginal,whichincludeslistsofspecificIanguageitemstobemastered,hasbeenomitted,ashavesomeleveldescriptorsandsamplelearningactivities.Despitetryingtomakeitmorereadable,thisversionreflectstherepetitivenatureoftheoriginal,withthesamekeywordscroppingupoverandoveragain.Volunteersshouldalsorefertothemoreofficial(butstillnotcompletelyofficial!)translationofthenewEnglishcurriculumspecificallyforseniormiddleschoolsavailablefromtheProgrammeOffice.Anyfeedbackonthisversionwouldbewelcome.TimMartinShaanxiInstituteofEducation,October2005Part1:IntroductionWiththeadventoftheinformationageandtheglobaleconomy,Englishhasbecomeincreasinglyimportant.EnglishisthedominantcarrierofinformationandthemostwidelyspokenIanguageintheworld.ManycountrieshavemadeEnglishacornerstoneofqualityeducationwhendevelopingstrategiesforbasiceducation.SinceChina'Beformandopening,thescaleofitsEnglisheducationhascontinuallygrown,attendedbysignificantachievementsinteachingandlearning.However,Englisheducationinitscurrentformisfailingtomeettheneedsofcontemporarysocialandeconomicdevelopment.ThecurrentroundofreformstotheEnglishcurriculumaimtoendthefollowingpractices:l Over-emphasizingthetransmissionandexplanationofknowledgeaboutgrammarandvocabularylNeglectingtodevelopstudents 'abilitytouseIanguageforrealIntheirplace,thereformsaimtoestablishacurriculumthat:l Developsstucbnts'comprehensiveIanguagecompeteneelMotivatesstudents,isrelevanttotheirlifeexperiencesandcognitivelevelIPromotestask-basedteachingmethodslInvoIvesstudentsinexperiential,practical,participatoryandcooperativelearninglDevelopsstudentspositiveattitudes,thinkingskills,practicalabilities,culturalawarenessandautonomythroughtheIanguagelearningprocessTheNatureoftheNewCurriculumThenewEnglishcurriculumstrivestoaccomplishfarmorethanjusthelpstudentslearnEnglish.AtonelevellearningEnglishshouldinvoIvehelpingstudentsto:IDevelopacertainlevelofcomprehensiveIanguagecompeteneeandtheabilitytouseIanguageforrealcommunicationIMastercertainbasicIanguageknowledgeIMasterlistening,speaking,readingandwritingskillsHowever,atanotherlevelthecurriculumshouldalsoservestudentsall-rounddevelopment,providingthemwithopportunitiesto:I StrengthentheirinterestinstudyingEnglishIGrowinself-discipline,perseveraneeandself-confideneeIImprovetheircooperative,investigativeandthinkingabilitiesIDeveloptheirmemory,imaginationandcreativityIAdoptgoodstudyhabitsandeffectivelearningstrategiesI DevelopasautonomousandlifelonglearnersI BuildmoralintegrityandahealthyoutlookonlifeIEstablishbothnationalspiritandanawarenessofandrespectforculturaldifferencesI BroadentheirhorizonsandenrichtheirlifeexperieneeI TakepartinculturallifeI DevelopasindividualsBasicPrinciplesoftheNewCurriculum2.1Thecurriculumpromotesqualityeducation(asopposedtoexam-orientatededucation)andtheall-rounddevelopmentofthestudentsTopromotequalityeducationparticularattentionmustbepaidto:I Valuingeachstudent 'sfeelingsI Stimulatingstudents 'interestinstudyingEnglishI Helpingstudentsgainasenseofachievementandself-confideneeThecurriculummustgobeyonddevelopingstudentscomprehensivelanguagecompeteneetoineludeareassuchas:l Improvingstudents abilitytocontributetoculturalandsociallifel Developingstudents 'practicalabilitiesl Fosteringstudents 'creativity2.2Thecurriculumobjectivesareholisticandflexible.ThefundamentalaimofthenewEnglishcurriculumistodevelopstudents'comprehensiveIanguagecompetenee.Thisaimisbrokendownintofivegeneralobjectives.Theseobjectivesarethendividedintonineabilitylevelswithdescriptorsprovidedforeachlevel.Thefivegeneralobjectivesare:LanguageSkillsLanguageKnowledgeAttitudestoLearningLearningStrategiesCulturalAwarenessThisdesignallowsstudentstoprogresssystematicallythrougheachlevelwhilstmeetingthefullrangeofthecurriculum 'sdemands.2.3StudentsareputatthecentreofthecurriculumandindividualdifferencesarerespectedStudentsmustbeattheheartofthenewcurriculum.Forexample,theirdevelopmentalneedsmustbethecentralconsiderationwhendeveloping:l Curriculumobjectivesl TheteachingandlearningprocesslTheassessmentprocessl TeachingandlearningresourcesWhenimplementingthecurriculumeachstudentmustbeallowedtodevelopindividuallyundertheguidaneeoftheteacher:2.4Thecurriculumpromotesactivity-basedmethods,experientialandparticipatorylearningThecurriculumpromotestask-basedlearningwhereby,undertheguidaneeoftheteacher,thestudentsgainasenseofachievementbyreachingthegoalsofthetask.TaskcompletionwillinvoIvethefollowingtypesoflearning:l SensorylExperientiall ‘Handson'/practicallParticipatorylCooperativeInordertoimprovetheirabilitytouseIanguageforrealcommunication,studentsshouldalsobeableto:l AdjusttheirlearningstrategiesandcontroltheiremotionslFormpositiveattitudestowardslearning2.5Thecurriculumrecognizestheimportantroleofformativeassessmentinpromotingstudent 'developmentTheassessmentsystemshouldcombineformativewithsummativeassessment.Thepurposesofassessmentshouldbeto:lPromotestudents'comprehensiveIanguagecompeteneel EncourageandmotivatestudentslHelpstudentsbecomemoreautonomouslearnersl Benefitstudents 'healthypersonaldevelopmentl Giveteachersusefulfeedbackfromwhichtodevelopteachingandlearningl InformtheongoingdevelopmentandperfectionoftheEnglishcurriculumFormativeassessmentshouldbeanimportantpartoftheEnglishteachingandlearningprocesswithaparticularemphasison:l Encouragingstudents 'activeparticipationinlearningl Improvingstudents '-contfideneeSummativeassessmentshouldfocuson:l Testingstudents 'integratedIanguageskillsl Testingstudents 'abilitytouseIanguage2.6ThecurriculumexpandstherangeoflearningresourcesandopportunitiesavailableThecurriculumshouldstrivetouseanddevelopresourceswhosecontentis:l Realisticl Closetothestudents'livesl Contemporaryl Healthyl RichandvariedActiveuseshouldbemadeof:l Audiovisualmateriall Printmedial TheInternetStudentsshouldbeencouragedtotakeresponsibilityforfinding,usinganddevelopinglearningresourcesthemselves.TheCurriculumDesignThecurriculumfollowstheinternationalpracticeofdividingthegeneralobjectivesintodifferentabilitylevels.Whendesigningtheseninelevelsconsiderationwasgiventothefollowing:lThenatureofIanguagedevelopmentlThedifferentneedsofdifferentagegroupslTheneedsofdifferentethnicgroupsandareaslTheeconomicimbalancesthatexistinChinaTheaimistohavedesignedasystemthatisholisticandflexible.Thecorrespondencebetweenthelevelsystemandthegradesystemisshowninthefollowingdiagram:Diagram1:TheLevelsandtheGradesPart2:IntroductiontoTheGeneralObjectivesThefundamentalaimofthenewcurriculumistodevelopstudents'comprehensiveIanguagecompetenee.ThiscomprehensiveIanguagecompeteneeisachievedthroughthefivegeneralobjectivesasshowninthefollowingdiagram:Diagram3:ComparisonoftheOldandNewCurriculumsl LanguageskillsandknowledgeformthebasisofcomprehensiveIanguagecompeteneelThestudentsattitudestolearningstronglyinflueneetheirlearninganddevelopmentl Successfullearningstrategiesimprovetheffectivenessofstudents 'learninglCulturalawarenessensuresstudentsuseIanguageappropriatelyTheoveralldescriptorsforcomprehensiveIanguagecompetenee(i.e.acombinationofallfivegeneralobjectives)forLevels1to9arepresentedbelow:Table1:TheOverallDescriptorsforComprehensiveLanguageCompeteneePart3:TheGeneralObjectivesinDetailDetaileddescriptorsforLevels2and5ofeachofthefivegeneralobjectivesarepresentedinthefollowingtables.PleaserefertothetranslationoftheseniorEnglishcurriculum(availablefromtheVSOProgrammeOffice)forLevel6—9descriptors.Table2:LevelDescriptorsforLanguageSkillsObjectiveN.B.TheoriginalineludesLanguageSkillsdescriptorsforLevels1,3,4,6,7,8and9Table3:LevelDescriptorsforLanguageKnowledgeObjectiveTable4:LevelDescriptorsforAffectiveAttitudesObjectiveTable5:LevelDescriptorsforLearningStrategiesObjectiveTable6:LevelDescriptorsforCulturalAwarenessPart4:GuidelinesforImplementationSuggestionsforTeachingandLearningLaythegroundworkforstudents -roundandlifelongdevelopmentTeachingandlearningshouldmeetthediverseneedsofallstudents,ensuringthehealthydevelopmentoftheirmindandbody.Inparticulartheteachershouldpayattentiontothefollowing:lEncouragestudentstouseEnglishbravely,takingalenientattitudetowardsmistakestheymakeduringthelearningprocess.l Providestudentswithampleopportunitiestocollaboratewithothersandtobecomeautonomouslearners.l Givestudentsplentyofspaceforself-development.lEncouragestudentstodeveloptheirIanguageskillsinanintegratedwaythroughexperiential,practical,cooperativeandinquiry-basedlearning.lCreateconditionsthatallowstudentstoexplorequestionstheyarepersonallyinterestedinandsolveproblemsbythemselves.Createarelaxed,democraticandharmoniouslearningenvironmentPositiveattitudesareanessentialconditionforeffectivelearning.Negativeattitudescannotonlyreducetheeffectivenessofstudybutalsoadverselyaffectstudents'l-iegmdevelopment.Inparticular,teachersshouldheedthefollowing:l Respecteachindividualstudent,activelyencouragingeveryonetotryandsafeguardingtheirself-esteemandenthusiasm.lIntegratestudentsEnglisheducationwiththeiremotionaleducation.Developcooperativespiritbyorganizinglearningactivitiesthatletstudentsworktogether,helpeachotherandexperieneegrouprecognitionandachievement.lPayparticularattentiontointrovertedstudentsorweaklearners,tryingtogivethemasmanyIanguagepracticeopportunitiesaspossible.lEstablishafriendlyanddemocraticchannelofcommunicationbetweenstudentsandteacher,frequentlyreflectingonthelearningprocessandresultstogether,andofferingmutualhelpandsupport.Usetask-basedlearningmethodstopromotestudentscomprehensiveIanguagecompeteneeTeachersshouldtrytoadopttask-basedlearningmethodsasmuchaspossible.Teachersshouldcreativelydesignlearningactivitiesthatarerelevanttothestudentsreallives,accordingtotheoverallcurriculumobjectivesandcontent.Teachersshouldengagestudentsinterestintheactivityandorganizethemeffectivelysothattheyparticipateactivelyandcompletethetasks,learningandusingEnglishthroughthinking,carryingoutsurveys,discussing,communicatingandcooperating.Attentionshouldbepaidtothefollowingpointswhendesigningtasks:lActivitiesmusthaveclearandachievableaimsandobjectives.lActivitiesmustberelevanttostudentslifeexperiencesandinterests;thecontentandstyleshouldbeastruetolifeaspossible.lActivitiesmustbenefitthedevelopmentofstudentsianguageknowledge,IanguageskillsandabilitytouseIanguageforrealcommunication.lActivitiesshouldbeofacross-curricularnature,promotingtheintegrateddevelopmentofstudentst'inkingandimagination,aestheticandartisticsense,cooperativeandcreativespirit.lActivitiesshouldmakestudentsgather,processanduseinformation,usingEnglishtocommunicatewithothersinordertodeveloptheirabilitytouseEnglishtosolverealproblems.lActivitiesshouldnotpurelybelimitedtotheclassroombutalsoextendtooutofschoollearning.N.B.InJuly2005VSOscurriculumadvisor,ProfessorZhangLianzhong,mentionedthatthissectionofthecurriculumwillberevisedsuchthat“wewilltaketheTBL(Task-BasedLearning)approachasoneoftheusefultoolswithinthebigboxofCommunicativeLanguageLearning. ”1.4.ProvideincreasedguidaneeaboutlearningstrategiesHelpingstudentstoadoptgoodstudyhabitsandeffectivelearningstrategiesisoneoftheimportanttasksofthenewcurriculum.Teachersshouldconsciouslygivestudentsguidaneeaboutlearningstrategiessothat,throughlearningandusingEnglish,theyarelearninghowtolearn.Tothisendtheteachershouldobservethefollowing:lGivestudentschancestoestablishtheirownstudytargetsandthemeansoffulfillingthese.lHelpstudentstouseinference,researchandinquirystylemethodstocarryouttheirlearning.lDevelopstu